60 Seconds

Breathing in tiny amounts of carbon monoxide helps prevent miscarriage in mice. This could have potential to prevent miscarriage in humans, but researchers warn that exact timing and dosage of the treatment are crucial to avoid harm to the fetus (Medical Gas Research, DOI: 10.1186/2045-9912-2-4).

Rash with cash

Reckless gambling may result from low levels of noradrenaline, say researchers who scanned the brains of 19 volunteers as they placed bets. Those with the fewest noradrenaline transporters and therefore most noradrenaline were most cautious about losing money, and least rash with their cash (Molecular Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2012.7).

Infectious increase

Infectious diseases may be declining in most developed countries but New Zealand bucks the trend. Hospital admissions there as a result of infectious diseases have increased by 51 per cent over the past two decades. Increasing household overcrowding in some sections of the population ...

To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.

To continue reading this article, log in or subscribe to New Scientist

App + web

Web

Smartphone

Tablet

$25.99 - Save 65%

12 issues for $2.17 per issue

with continuous service

Print + web

Print

Web

$28.99 - Save 61%

12 issues for $2.42 per issue

with continuous service

Print + app + web

Print

Web

Smartphone

Tablet

$39.99 - Save 73%

12 issues for $3.33 per issue

with continuous service

Web

Web only

$49.99

30 day web pass

Prices may vary according to delivery country and associated local taxes.